For many years – more than a quarter-century in the United States – egg donation has helped women who despite multiple attempts with advanced fertility treatmentsare unable to conceive with their own eggs, have lost their ovaries due to disease requiring surgical removal, have premature ovarian failure, , or have a history of genetic disease that they do not wish to pass on to their children. Egg donation offers an opportunity for a couple to conceive who otherwise may not have that chance through other fertility treatments. Demand for donated eggs has grown quickly, principally due to sociological changes. Research indicates that women are waiting later in life to have children at which time the number and quality of a women’s eggs may be severely compromised making use donor eggs essential in many cases.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), use of donor eggs nationwide rose nearly 60 percent from 10,389 in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles or treatments in 2000 to 16,579 in 2008.
Complexities of Egg Donation
The most important point about egg donation is that it’s a complex process that any prospective recipient should consider very carefully. Consultations with a psychologist is recommended. –Each candidate must address questions about the acceptability of parenting a child to whom she is not genetically related. The couple must carefully consider the options for donor selection and whether or not to discuss egg donation with friends and family. Lastly consideration should also be given to whether or not they will ever to tell the child and siblings about the process they went through to have that child.
In addition, a candidate should be careful to avoid donor agencies that may be over-compensating donors. It is illegal to pay young women for eggs. However, reputable agencies and medical clinics do compensate donors for the considerable time lost from work and other activities as well as for the physical discomfort.
Screening egg donors carefully
At ARMS, donors are meticulously screened, and our egg donor coordinator works closely with the couple to find a good match for them through our in house egg donor program which offers a cost savings. We also work with outside agencies if the couple prefers. Egg donors are asked to complete and extensive personal and extended family medical history. They are screened for infectious diseases and drug use as well as for their egg production potential through hormonal screening and ultrasound. Our donors are also screened for inheritable diseases which have genetic screening tests available as indicated by their ethnicity and the desire of the recipient couple.. Egg donors must be healthy and within a specific age range (usually between the ages of 18 and 32,.) The American Society for Reproductive Medicine sets standards and criteria for egg donation programs, which are followed at ARMS.
Two kinds of donors
Potential egg donors may be:
- Anonymous Donors - Many women opt to undergo the egg donation process as anonymous donors. They donate eggs to an infertile woman or couple whose identity also remains anonymous. Anonymous donors are matched as closely as possible to the criteria specified by the prospective recipient. Egg donors are compensated for their time and effort.
- Known Donors - In many cases, the egg donor is a sister, friend, or relative of the recipient. Some recipients recruit donors on their own.
Read more about requirements and costs for donor recipients at ARMS on our page “IVF Using Donor Egg.” Or for more information on becoming an egg donor, visit our page “Egg Donation Services for Donors.”
